Frequently Asked Questions | Mountain View Labradoodles

Below you can find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about Australian Labradoodles, our puppies, and our adoption process. If you have additional questions not covered here please contact us. Puppy frequently asked questions can be found here.

How much do Mountain View Labradoodle puppies cost?

Our adoption price is $2,800.00. A $500.00 deposit is required once your submitted application is approved to officially join our waiting list. The remaining $2,300.00 balance is due once we have matched you with a puppy when they are 7 weeks old.

Can I have my puppy transported to me or must I pick it up?

We prefer to have you pick your puppy up at our location outside of Sisters, Oregon, however we recognize that in some cases this is not possible and you may request to have your puppy transported to you. The following are options we advise:

We also can hand deliver your puppy to your nearest airport, but this option is based on our availability and there is an additional fee for this.
You may also fly to our local airport and fly back with your puppy as a carry on after 8-weeks of age if you choose this option. We are open to meeting at our local airport for pickup if this is the option you prefer.
We also have worked with pet couriers who will drive the puppy to you, but this is all negotiated with the company chosen. We do have recommendations on this option.
In certain circumstances we will ship the puppy to your through an airlines cargo department. This is subject to your location, weather, and airline procedures.

Prices for transport options are dependent on a variety of factors. We encourage you to contact us and we can discuss your specific situation to give you some rough price quotes on the transport option of your choice.

How do you match puppies to families?

We believe strongly that with our care and method for matching is a great way to match you up with a fantastic puppy who enriches your home. While every puppy needs to be trained and taught how to function within what each owner wants, we spend countless hours with each litter every day to learn behaviors, characteristics and tendencies. With our over 17 years of experience matching Labradoodles with their forever homes we have found that personality fits are far more important than looks or gender interests. We feel this is the best way to match you with a puppy that meets what you would like and that has a temperament best suited for your family.

We give our puppies the best start possibly by daily putting each puppy through early neurological stimulation. The tendencies and characteristics we see daily shows us a baseline of their temperaments in how they have acted throughout their first 6-weeks of life during different situations we place them in. On their 6-week birthday we give them their first full bath and blow dry. We watch them and score each puppy based on how they handle water, hand drying, and blow drying. Once this is done we put them through a full photo shoot. Asking them to stay in certain positions and react to noises while we photograph them. We make notes of all of their tendencies here as well. We then place them through an extensive personality evaluation to find just the right fit for each family!

Some families are looking for therapy dogs. If we have a family that is looking for this, during this point in the process candidates for therapy quality dogs are weeded out. All of our dogs have great personalities, but it takes a special personality to be a therapy dog. We work with the remaining candidates to see how they do with the following things we feel are essential in choosing a perfect candidate for a therapy dog:

Retrieving – The puppy needs to retrieve simple items when thrown or dropped near them.
Recovery – We need to be able to get the dogs attention quickly following a startling experience for them.
Greeting – We want a puppy that does not run to us immediately. We want a puppy that pauses, evaluates the scene, and then approaches with intention and caution.
Submission – When we flip the puppy over on its back on the ground and keep our hand on its chest we want to see submission and not trying to wiggle out.
Following – We want a puppy who will follow us with their eyes while watching us and also follow us through the yard if set down off leash.
Forgiveness – We pinch the puppy between its paws, pull its legs, grab its tail, pinch ears, etc. None of this is malicious, but mildly uncomfortable for the dog. Once we stop are we getting a dirty look from the dog or a complete redirect of attention and acting as if it didn’t bother them. A quick forgiveness is essential.

There are many other little things we look for in this matching process, but this is a snapshot to give you the insight on how detailed we are in choosing our puppies for our customers. We feel confident we will find you a great choice in our litters.

After we have matched each puppy with their future family we will send an email out with their final photo shoot as well as information about this puppy. Due to the safety of our puppies we do not accept visitors during this matching process (see below for the reasons of not visiting our facility before puppy pick up day). We stay in communication with each family on our reservations lists and try to verify every characteristic, color, and gender requests you may have. The process from birth to matching is an opportunity for us to understand you a bit more as a customer and aiming to match you with not just any puppy, but one of the best!

What if I don’t like the puppy I am matched with?

We want to make sure you get the perfect puppy that will enrich your home. If you don’t get matched with a puppy that meets your criteria (gender, color, temperament, etc) from the current litter, we will move you to a waitlist for the next litter that will match your criteria. Applications are filled in the order received once approved and the deposit is paid.

Can we visit your home and see your puppies and breeding dogs?

No and this is a policy we feel very strongly about. We are very concerned about the health and well-being of our puppies so we have decided it is in their best interest for overall health and wellness not to have visitors prior to them being vaccinated (at 7 weeks of age). Parvo virus is deadly to puppies and can be unknowingly tracked in by car tires and/or tennis shoes. It is also not fair to a new mama to expect her to tolerate visitors while she is doing her best to care for and protect her babies. Due to this we only accept visitors on the day of puppy adoption. If you have a dog allergy and are needing to discuss if you are allergic prior to applying please contact us to discuss further. If this is the only reason you are hesitant to work with us, we would love the opportunity to chat about what you’re looking for and discuss our program more in depth to make you feel comfortable.

As to the parent dogs; all of our breeding dogs live in guardian homes so that they live a normal family dog life and the only time they are here with us is either when they are breeding or delivering a litter of puppies and raising them. This is a fabulous way for our breeding dogs to be able to live a normal life and not in kennels. All of our puppies are whelped inside of our home and then later move to an indoor/outdoor space where they can learn to sleep in a crate and be exposed to outdoor sights, sounds and environment.

We try to do our very best to provide quality portraits of all of our breeding dogs and constant updates of our puppies through our blog and social media. This way you can still see and connect with the litter while helping us keep them safe!

Is my puppy spayed/neutered prior to my adopting him/her?

We sell our puppies on a strict spay/neuter contract that requires you have your puppy altered no later than 6 months of age. This allows you the option of having it done earlier if you choose to, but it is done before your puppy reaches sexual maturity. After countless years of personal study and consultation with multiple vets and breeders both locally and nationally we feel this is in the best health interest of your puppy and will prevent any unplanned, unwanted litters of puppies. This is a non-negotiable policy and we will enforce our contract. We believe this policy allows you the option of choosing when works best for your family and puppy during those first 6-months. Please understand this policy prior to submitting an application.

Can I choose to wait past 6 months to spay/neuter my puppy?

We have strict policies that require you to show proof of the spay/neuter by the puppies 6 month birthday. Many different vets have differing opinions about the ideal time to spay/neuter a dog but after over 18 years of breeding Labradoodles and consulting with both local and national vets and fellow breeders we feel very strongly that’s it’s important to have the female dog spayed prior to her first heat as this helps protect against mammary cancer. We are committed to not having any of our dogs contribute to the unwanted dogs of the world and therefore want all of ours spayed prior to a heat to avoid any “accidental” litters of puppies. We have had many dogs go into heat in the 6-8 month and it’s not healthy for them to be getting spayed at that time when they are engorged with blood. As for the males, they can sexually mature and sire a litter of (unwanted) puppies as early as 7 months of age. Neutering them prior to 6 months can also prevent them from developing some of those unwanted male traits of lifting their leg to potty, humping objects, and being overly interested in the girls.

We feel this is in the best interest of the both the male and female dog and a very healthy option. Your vet may disagree with this stance and we encourage you to find a vet that will honor this policy prior to even receiving your puppy. For all of these reasons we have adopted the policy to set the timing for the spay/neuter at or before 6 months of age. For any standard size males we do adjust this time period to allow more time for testosterone to help grow their joints, but for any puppy expected to be less than 50 lbs we stick to our strict policy of 6 months. This policy is non-negotiable and something we will enforce. We have had many puppies over the years (over 1,000 over the time of Mountain View Labradoodles) and we work with countless breeders with similar experience. We have not ever seen any negative consequences to having our dogs spayed/neutered by this age and believe it truly is in the best interest of the dog and owner. This is a non-negotiable part of our contract and we will not alter our stance based on a vet’s opinion that is treating your puppy.

How big will my Australian Labradoodle get?

Small/Miniature:	Weight: Female – 20-30 pounds; Male – 25-35 pounds. Height: 14-17″
Medium:	Weight: Female – 30-45 pounds; Male – 35-50 pounds. Height: 17-20″
Standard:	Weight: Female – 45-65 pounds; Male – 50-70 pounds. Height: 20-26″
Life Expectancy:	Labradoodles may live for approximately 12-15 years

How do I choose the right color for me?

Colors can be deceiving and making the right choice is not an easy task. Depending on the genetics there are typically three options for coloring. 1.) Stay the same color, 2.) Get lighter over time, 3.) Get darker over time. Depending on each dogs genetics will determine their color transition. Some dogs may appear very dark at birth (chocolate, black, red) and over time will get lighter within their color shade. Other dogs may get darker over time or remain the same shade as they were with a puppy. Our best advice is to head into your color selection with the thought that your dog may change its shade. Focus more on the color pallet you’re after & not a specific look (ie. Red/Apricot, Chocolate/Cafe, Black/Grey, Cream/White). If you are looking for unique coloring, be open to a variety of options as unique coloring genetics is never something that is perfectly predicted. If you’re open to a variety of options it will allow us to find just the right puppy for you within a specific litter. While we know certain looks & colors are desired, make sure you know what to expect with the litter you’re choosing so there is no misunderstanding.

What size dog is best for me?

The best way to answer this question is to evaluate your lifestyle and what activities you’re wanting the dog for. Many older families pursue a smaller dog so the dog is lighter to pick up, but many times a larger dog can get in & out of the car themselves. Many younger families want a larger dog so they can withstand the playing with children, but many times a smaller dog has great endurance. With only a few inches and slight weight scales differentiating each Labradoodle size, we encourage you to consider your options of sizing before settling in on a litter of choice. We are here to help & are happy to talk through what you’re looking for and find just the right litter for you.

Are the puppies vaccinated and microchipped?

All of our puppies receive the initial puppy vaccine and worming and they will have a wellness exam with our veterinarian. We believe that microchipping your puppy should be your decision as many of our buyers choose not to have this done and others want to wait until they are full grown to do so. We recommend if you choose to microchip that you wait until your puppy is older (perhaps during the time of the spay/neuter by 8 months of age).

Are Australian Labradoodles good family pets?

We believe they are one of the best family pets you will find! They are very friendly and have a gentle disposition. They are curious, quick learners and take well to training. They love people and their people become their “pack”. They want to be where their “pack” is whenever possible which makes for plenty of companionship.

Is there a supplement to regular dog food that you suggest for happy & healthy Labradoodles?

We want you to enjoy the longest & healthiest life with your Labradoodle. That’s why we use and highly recommend NuVet Plus wellness wafers. Protect your pet by boosting immunity, reducing cell damage and providing vital nutrients missing in most diets. We have seen incredible results with this product, feed it to all of our breeding dogs, and suggest to everyone of our Mountain View families for when their dogs are puppies and throughout their entire life! To order visit: www.nuvet.com/31060 or for more information regarding this incredible product click here.